Quote:
Originally Posted by OILFAN #81
San Antonio as a #1 seed lost to the #8 seed last year.
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Exception to the rule; it's only happened twice in the history of the league (Warriors/Mavericks being the other time). The top ranked seeds went 5-1 in the first round last season (the Spurs being the only team that lost), not counting the 4 vs. 5 matchups which there usually is no clear favorite.
In 2008 the top ranked seeds went 8-0
2009 7-1 (a 5 beat a 4)
2010 6-2 (a 5 beat a 4)
2011 6-2 (a 5 beat a 4)
2012 appears to be no different, the top ranked seed either leads or is tied in every series. The only way a higher seed will lose is because of an injury (Rose and Allen particularly).
Just to compare that to the NHL in the same time period:
in 2007 5-3 (a 5 beat a 4)
2008 4-4 (both 5 seeds won)
2009 6-2 (both 5 seeds lost)
2010 4-4 (a 5 beat a 4)
2011 6-2
2012 4-4